PN 

6120 

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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


^1 


IN   THE    BEGINNING 


fii 


CASTt 


IN  THE  BEGINNING 

I 
by  Bernice  Bronson 

with  the  members  of  the  Looking  Glass  Theatre 

Providence,  R, I. 

An  Audience  Participation  Play 
Kindergarten  through  3rd  Grade 


( YELLOW 
(SUN 


(ORANGE 

(BULL 

( CREATOR 

(BOY  FISHING 

(RED 

(MOON 

( ROOSTER 

(BLUE 
(SKY  WOMAN 

(GREEN 

(CUCKABURRA  BIRD 
(BEAUTIFUL  GIRL 

(PURPLE 
(TIGER  CAT 
(MOTHER  OF  GIRL 


Professionals  and  amateurs  are  hereby 
warned  that  this  play,  being  fully 
protected  under  the  copyright  laws  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  the  British 
Empire,  including  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 
and  all  other  countries  of  the  copyright 
Union,  is  subject  to  a  royalty.   All 
rights,  including  professional,  2unateur, 
motion  pictures,  recitation,  radio 
broadcasting,  television,  and  the  rights 
of  translation  into  foreign  languages  are 
strictly  reserved.   Arrangements  for 
production  must  be  made  in  writing  withx 
NEW  PLAYS  FOR  CHILDREN 
Box  2181  Grand  Central  Sta. 
New  York,  N.Y.  10017 


1. 

We  developed  this  production  at  a  time  when  we  had  absolutely 
no  funds  at  all,  and  morale  was  at  a  low  ebb.   The  show  was  to  tour, 
but  there  would  be  no  monies  for  a  truck,  a  stage  manager,  stage 
hands,  a  lighting  technician,  nor,  for  that  matter,  any  equipment 
for  them  to  do  anything  with. 

We  had  only  ourselves,  six  actors,  to  create  the  mood,  excite- 
ment, clarity  and  focus  that  set,  costumes,  and  lights  might  have 
given  us  at  another  time. 

So  our  costumes  and  properties  were  homemade,  out  of  donated 
materials,  and  we  borrowed  a  ladder  to  give  us  a  level  change.   And 
out  of  this  we  found  some  kind  of  new  birth — a  new  way  of  working 
and  touring — as  unencumbered  as  possible.   We  felt  as  if  it  had 
set  us  free. 

Since  this  play  came  into  being  through  group  improvisation, 
for  the  entire  first  season  of  touring  there  was  never  a  written 
script.   We  preferred  this  arrangement  because  it  allowed  for  the 
most  spontaneous  interaction  between  the  actors  and  vastly  different 
audiences  with  active  roles  in  the  production. 

Therefore,  in  solidifying  the  play  into  a  printed  form,  we 
purposely  avoided  setting  every  word  of  dialogue.   Instead,  in 
certain  sections  where  the  actors  must  work  things  out  directly 
with  the  audience,  there  is  simply  a  description  of  the  action. 


M 


The  performance  area  is  a  room  large  enough  to  accomodate 
about  200  children  sitting  in  a  circle  on  the  floor,   A  "territory 
for  each  of  six  groups  is  indicated  by  a  vividly  colored  ground 
cloth:  Red,  Orange,  Yellow,  Green,  Blue  Purple.   There  is  a  ladder 
ec-at  either  end  of  the  room, 

L 

Each  actor  is  the  leader  of  his  own  tribe,  and  wears  a  cos- 
tume matching  one  of  the  ground  cloths.   Before  the  play  begins, 
the  six  actors  go  to  six  classrooms  to  call  for  the  children  and 
orient  them  to  what  is  about  to  happen.   This  preparation  has  turned 
out  to  be  marvelously  effective.   It  builds  a  very  close  relationship 
between  the  children  and  their  actor,  heightening  the  children's 
participation  in  the  performance  and  providing  a  natural  way  to 
indicate  when  the  participation  should  start  and  stop.   It  also 
personalizes  the  entire  experience. 

If  you  are  not  performing  at  a  school,  you  can  easily  have 
the  ushers  take  the  children  to  different  areas  as  they  come  in, 
and  have  the  actors  meet  them  there,  rather  than  in  the  classrooms. 

Lji,T.Mi'y 


FN 


a 


2. 

Each  actor  will  have  his  own  way  of  talking  with  the 
children.   The  following  is  only  a  hypothetical  sample i 

ORANGE 
Hello,   What  color  am  I  dressed  in? 

(THE  CHILDREN  WILL  TELL  HIM) 
That  means  that  we're  all  in  the  orange  tribe,  and  I'm  the  leader 
of  the  orange  tribe.   And  this  morning  we're  going  to  a  celebration 
of  all  the  tribes  on  their  tribal  grounds.   When  we  get  there, 
we're  going  to  sit  on  our  tribal  territory.   And  guess  what  color 
that  will  be. 

(THEY  TELL  HIM  ORANGE) 
You  guessed  right.   Orange,   The  celebration  is  going  to  be  really 
exciting.   People  will  dance,,, and  tell  stories — myths.   Does  any- 
body know  what  a  myth  is? 

(CHANCES  ARE  THEY  WILL  NOT.   IF  THEY  DO,  TAKE  IT  FROM  THERE. 

IF  NOT — ) 
Myths  are  stories  about  how  things  in  the  world  started,  or  where 
they  came  from.   Like  when  you  were  really  little,  where  did  you 
think  the  sun  C2une  from.  ..or  what  did  you  think  the  moon  was  made 
out  of,,, or  why  did  you  think  we  had  rain? 

(IF  THEY  HAVE  NOT  HAD  ANY  IDEAS  YET,  ASK  A  FEW  MORE  QUESTIONS, 

IF  THEY  HAVE  IDEAS,  LISTEN  TO  THEM) 
You  know,  at  the  very  beginning  of  the  world,  people  didn't  know 
where  anything  ceune  from,  and  so  they  Just  made  up  stories.   Who 
can  make  up  a  story  about  thunder  and  lightning?,,, or  about  where 
animals  came  from, ,,,or  about  why  birds  fly? 

(LISTEN  TO  THE  STORIES) 
In  the  celebration  today,  we're  going  to  have  stories  made  up  by 
the  Indians  who  lived  right  here.   Have  you  heard  of  Indians? 

(LISTEN  TO  THE  ANSWERS) 
And  one  of  the  stories  will  be  from  a  faraway  place  called  Kenya 
in  Africa,   Have  you  heard  of  that  place? 

(LISTEN  TO  THE  ANSWERS.   DISCUSS  A  LITTLE) 
And  some  from  China, 

(SAME  PROCESS) 
We're  going  to  need  your  help  in  putting  on  the  stories.   For 
instance,  in  one  part  of  the  play,  everyone  in  the  orange  tribe 
is  going  to  have  to  be  the  wind  blowing.   How  would  we  do  that? 

(TRY  OUT  A  FEW  SUGGESTIONS) 
The  orange  tribe  is  going  to  be  really  great.   And  the  tribe  leaders 
are  going  to  need  your  help  when  they  dance.   They  are  going  to  need 
you  to  clap  the  rhythro,  like  this: 

(TRY  SOME  CLAPPING) 
And  another  thing  they  need  you  to  know  is  a  special  sign,  thist 

(SIGN  FOR  "STOP") 
Can  you  guess  what  that  means?  Right I   It  means  stop.   And  whenever 
we  see  that  sign,  we  have  to  stop  whatever  we  are  doing.   If  we  are 
moving  around,  we  have  to  stand  absolutely  still.   And  if  we  are 
talking,  or  making  another  noise,  we  have  to  stop, ,, still.   Let's 
try  that.   Talk  I 

(WHEN  THEY  HAVE  STARTED,  GIVE  THE  STOP  SIGNAL) 
That  was  very  good.   We  could  try  out  a  few  more  things  now,  but  I 
think  it's  time  to  get  going  to  the  celebration.   So  everybody  get 
up  and  come  with  me, 

(ACTOR  LEADS  THEM  TO  CELEBRATION  ROOM  AND  THEIR  GROUND  CLOTH) 


3. 

ORANGE  ( CONT. ) 
This  is  our  orange  tribe  territory.   Everyone  get  on  it  and  sit  dovm. 
Now  I  have  an  important  secret  to  tell  you.   We  have  to  stay  right 
here  on  our  territory  most  of  the  time.   If  we  go  too  far  away  from 
it,  we  might  lose  it  forever.   And  we  wouldn't  want  that  to  happen , 
would  we? 

(CONVERSATION  CAN  CONTINUE  UNTIL  ALL  THE  TRIBES  ARE  SEATED. 
THE  ACTOR  MIGHT  TALK  ABOUT  WHAT  ROLE  HE  WILL  PLAY,  AND  ASK  THE 
CHILDREN  IF  THEY  CAN  GUESS  WHO  MIGHT  PLAY  SOME  OTHER  ROLES. 
THE  ACTOR  MIGHT  DISCUSS  WHAT  ANIMAL  THE  CHILDREN  WOULD  LIKE  TO 
BECOME  IN  THE  PART  OF  THE  PLAY  WHEN  THEY  GET  TO  BE  ANIMALS, 
HOWEVER,  WHEN  ALL  THE  TRIBES  ARE  SEATED,  AND  SOME  SIGNAL  IS 
GIVEN,  THE  CLAPPING  STARTS) 
Oh,  that  sounds  li)ce  the  signal  for  us  to  begin  clapping. 

(EVERYONE  IN  THE  ROOM  CLAPS  A  STEADY  BEAT.   THE  ACTORS  RISE 
AND  GO  TOWARDS  THE  CENTER  OF  THE  ROOM.   AS  THE  CHILDREN 
CONTINUE  THE  CLAPPING,  THE  ACTORS  BREAK  INTO  AN  EXUBERANT  CIR- 
CULAR DANCE,  HOOTING,  CALLING,  CRYING,  SIGHING  THEIR  OWN 
ACCOMPANIMENT.   THEY  END  CLOSE  TOGETHER,  FACING  EACH  OTHER. ) 

UNISON 
In  the  beginning 
Creator  made  the  sun 

the  moon 

and  the  stars 

ORANGE  TRIBE  LEADER 
(HAS  AN  IMPORTANT  VOICE) 
And  then  he  made  the  earth 
and  everything  upon  the  earth, 

PURPLE  TRIBE  LEADER 
(THE  YOUNGEST  ONE) 
And  then  he  made  man,  who  wondered  about  all  these  things, 

(ORANGE  LEADER  AND  GREEN  LEADER  SEPARATE  THEMSELVES  FROM 
GROUP  AND  BEGIN  A  PANTOMIME) 

GREEN 

I  think  the  sun  and  the  moon  used  to  walk  together 

(GREEN  AND  ORANGE  ARE  WALKING  AROUND  THE  GROUP,  "SINGING" 
THEIR  OWN  ACCOMPANIMENT.   THEY  CONTINUE  TO  MIME  THE  STORY) 

until  one  day  they  crossed  a  log  over  some  mud 

and  the  moon  fell  off. 

Her  face  was  covered  with  mud. 

The  sun  wouldn't  wait.   He  went  on  ahead. 

The  moon  is  still  hoping  to  catch  up  with  him.   And  she  still 

has  a  dirty  face, 

(THE  TRIBE  LEADERS  TAKE  ONE  LAST  LOOK  AT  THE  DIRTY  FACE,  AND 
THEN  GO  TO  SIT  WITH  THEIR  TRIBES.  IT  IS  HELPFUL  FOR  THEM  TO 
BE  THERE  WHENEVER  POSSIBLE.  PURPLE,  HOWEVER,  REMAINS  IN  THE 
CENTER. ) 

PURPLE 
(BEGINS  HER  PANTOMIME) 
I  think  that  the  moon  is  a  big  white  cat. 
And  she's  chasing  the  little  mice  of  the  night, 

(CONCLUDES  MIME) 


4. 

BLUE 
Some  people  say  this  about  the  sunt 

(A  CIRCLE  IS  MADE,  WITH  SHIMMERING  HANDS) 
They  say  the  sun  is  like  a  golden  earring,  worn  by  a  beautiful  girl, 

(PURPLE  BECOMES  THE  EARRING) 
A  great  bird  saw  it  one  day,  and  stole  it. 

(YELLOW  BECOMES  THE  WHITE  BIRD) 
But  it  caught  on  a  cobweb 
that  stretches  between  the  homes  of  men  and  homes  of  the  gods, 

(ALL  OTHER  AVAILABLE  ACTORS  FORM  THE  COBWEB) 

ORANGE 
Thunder 1 

(ALL  THE  LEADERS  ARE  BLASTED  BACK  TO  THEIR  TRIBES) 
When  the  gods  are  angry 
They  take  a  stone  and  roll  it  across  the  floors  of  the  heavens, 

(TRIBE  LEAi:S^S  AND  TRIBES  BEAT  THE  FLOOR  WITH  THEIR  HANDS. 

THEN  SIGNAL  TO  STOP) 
They  roll  the  stone  across  the  floors  that  go  from  north  to  south 
across  the  skies,   Booml 

(MORE  FLOOR  BEATS.   STOP) 
They  roll  the  stone  across  the  floors  that  go  from  east  to  west 
across  the  skies,   Booml 

(MORE  FLOOR  BEATS.   STOP) 
And  we  say  it's  thunder, 

(ALL I  BOOM.   AND  MORE  BEATS.   STOP) 

RED 
Winds 1 

High  in  the  air 
Winds  are  made  by  the  eagles 
Flapping  their  wings, 

(YELLOW,  ORANGE,  BLUE,  GREEN  HAVE  BECOME  THE  BIRD  FORMATION, 

BEATING  WINGS  THAT  BLOW  RED  AND  PURPLE) 

YELLOW 

Thunder  is  a  great  dragon 

(YELLOW  BECOMES  THE  DRAGON) 

who  swims  through  the  water 

(TRIBES  AND  LEADERS  MAKE  BUBBLE  SOUNDS) 

and  flies  through  the  air 
(ALL  MAKE  AIR  SOUNDS) 

The  dragon  holds  two  huge  stones.   And  when  he  strikes  them  together, 

the  lightning  flashes, 

(ALL  MAKE  FLASH  SOUNDS) 

and  the  thunder  roars I 

(ALL  ROAR  AND  BEAT  THE  FLOOR) 

The  dragon  chases  the  spirits  of  evil, 

(HE  MAKES  VOCAL  SOUNDS  IN  PURSUIT.   RED  BECOMES  THE  SPIRIT  OF  EVIL) 

And  he  slays  them  wherever  he  finds  them. 

The  spirits  of  evil  hide  in  the  trees, 

(PURPLE,  ORANGE,  BLUE  AND  GREEN  BECOME  THE  TREES) 

But  the  dragon  slays  them. 

(VOCAL  PUNCTUATION  FROM  DRAGON  AND  EVIL  ACCOMPANIES  THE 
DESTRUCTION,   DRAGON  ASSUMES  A  TRIUMPHANT  POSE  AND  THE  "TREES" 
APPLAUD.   THE  APPLAUSE  BECOMES  THE  ORIGINAL  BEAT,  AND  THE 
LEADERS  SIGNAL  THEIR  TRIBES  TO  START  CLAPPING  AGAIN.   WHEN  THE 
CLAPPING  HAS  BEEN  ESTABLISHED  THE  ACTORS  DO  A  DANCE  OF  TRIUMPH, 


5. 


A  VARIATION  OF  THEIR  FIRST  DANCE — LANDING  AGAIN  IN  A  CIRCXE 
IN  THE  MIDDLE  OF  THE  ROOM,  FACING  THE  TRIBES. ) 

UNISON 
And  Creator  made  animals  and  men. 

(ORANGE  SEPARATES  HIMSELF  FROM  THE  OTHER  ACTORS,  WHO  FORM  A 
"MOUND  OF  EARTH,  " 

ORANGE,  NOW  CREATOR 
Silence.. .Darkness. • .In  the  beginning  there  was  nothing.   Nothing 
but  a  mound  of  earth, 

(EARTH  STARTS  TO  HUM) 
And  Creator  walked  up  to  the  mound  of  earth  and  began  to  mold  It, 

(GRADUALLY  HE  MOLDS  EVERYONE  INTO  ABSTRACT  SHAPES.   THE  EARTH 

IS  STILL  HUMMING) 
And  Creator  began  to  shape  animals  and  men  from  the  clay, 

(HE  DOES,  EARTH  STILL  HUMMING) 
All  four  winds  of  the  earth,  I  need  your  help.   Help  me  bring  my 
creatures  to  life.   Four  big  breaths  will  blow  them  to  life,   Blowl 

(ALL  THE  CHILDREN  BLOW) 
Two I   Three I   Four  i 

(THE  HUMMING  STOPS.   THE  CREATURES  OPEN  THEIR  EYES  AND  SLOWLY 

BEGIN  TO  MOVE  BY  THEMSELVES.   GRADUALLY  THEY  DISCOVER  THEIR 

OWN  BODIES.   THEN  THEY  SEE  OTHER  PEOPLE,  AND  BEGIN  TO  MOVE 

TOWARDS  THEM,  OCCASIONALLY  MAKING  SOME  SOUND, ) 
Menl   Stand  talll   And  slngl 

(THE  CREATURES  MAKE  VOCAL  SOUNDS,  WHICH  FINALLY  BECOME  SINGING) 
And  build  your  homes  I 

(THE  SINGING  BECOMES  CONSONANT,  AND  THEY  MAKE  A  "PEOPLE  HOUSE," 

A  CIRCLE,  WITH  ARMS  RAISED,  AND  FINGERS  TOUCHING  IN  THE  MIDDLE, 

FORMING  A  ROOF. ) 
Go  out  over  all  the  world,  and  find  more  earth  and  clay,  and  shape 
it  into  animals  and  men. 

(THE  ACTORS  GO  TO  THEIR  OWN  TRIBES,  AND  SAY  SOMETHING  TO  THIS 

EFFECT  X ) 

TRIBE  LEADERS 

Plump  down  right  where  you  are  into  a  little  ball  of  earth,   I'm 

going  to  mold  you, 

(THE  CHILDREN  DO  THIS  EASILY.   THE  LEADER  GOES  TO  EACH  CHILD 
AND  SHAPES  HIM.   IF  THE  ACTORS  AND  CHILDREN  HAVE  DISCUSSED  THIS 
IN  ADVANCE,  THE  CHILDREN  MAY  REMIND  THE  ACTOR  OF  WHAT  CREATURES 
THEY  WOULD  LIKE  TO  BE.   IF  NOT,  AND  THE  GROUP  IS  SMALL  AND 
THERE  IS  PLENTY  OF  TIME,  THE  ACTOR  CAN  ASK  THE  CHILD  WHEN  HE 
GETS  TO  HIM.   IN  OTHER  CASES,  THE  ACTOR  MIGHT  SAY  "TALL"  OR 
"FLAT"  AND  LET  THE  CHILDREN  DRAW  THEIR  OWN  CONCLUSIONS,  OR  HE 
MIGHT  SPELL  IT  OUT  MORE,  "BEAR"  OR  "BIRD",  ETC.) 

ORANGE 
Tribe  leaders  over  all  the  earth,  when  you  have  finished  molding 
all  your  creatures,  blow  the  breath  of  life  into  them. 

(THEY  DO.  .WHEN  THE  CREATURES  COME  ALIVE,  THE  LEADER  HELPS 

THEM  BEGIN  TO  FEEL   AND  MOVE.   FOR  INSTANCE:) 


6. 


TRIBE  LEADERS 
Yellow  creatures,  come  alive.   Open  your  eyes,,, 
oreathe, ,, breathe, , , breathe,,, 
begin  to  move  your  back  and  head,.. 
Can  you  feel  your  spine?,,. 
Move  your  head  from  side  to  side, , . 
And  up  and  down, , , 
Try  out  your  smile  muscles, ,,Smilel   Unsmile,, , Smile,, , 

Unsmile,,, 
Look  at  the  end  of  your  arms:   hands  and  fingers,,. 

Open  them  and  close  them. 
What's  that  at  the  bottom  of  your  legs?  Feet.   Pick  them 
up  in  the  air.   Shake  them, ,, wiggle  them,,, 

(THIS  EXPLORATION  CAN  GO  ON  AS  LONG  AS  NECESSARY.   IT  IS 
IMPORTANT,  THOUGH,  NOT  TO  ALLOW  THE  CHILDREN  TO  STAND  UP 
BEFORE  CREATOR  IS  READY  FOR  THEM  BECAUSE,  ONCE  ON  THEIR 
FEET,  THEY  WILL  TEND  TO  BECOME  TOO  MOBILE. ) 

CREATOR 

Creatures  all  over  the  earth,  stand  tall,  and  walk  around  your 

territory, 

(EACH  CREATURE,  ACCORDING  TO  HIS  CHOSEN  SPECIES,  STANDS  AND 
WALKS  AROUND  THE  GROUND  CLOTH.   SNAKES  HAVE  TROUBLE  WITH  THIS, 
ALSO  FISH.   TELL  THEM  TO  WALK  ON  THEIR  TAILS) 

Now  you  will  need  homes.   Build  your  houses, 

(TRIBE  LEADERS  TELL  THEIR  TRIBES  TO  FACE  IN  TOWARD  THEIR 
TERRITORY,  AND  RAISE  THEIR  ARMS,  STRAIGHT,  UNTIL  THEIR 
FINGERS  TOUCH  SCMEONE  ELSE'S  FINGERS.   CREATOR  NOW  GETS  UP 
ON  ONE  OF  THE  LADDERS) 

All  of  my  creatures  upon  the  earth,  I  have  gifts  for  you:  I  have 

the  Sun I   And  the  moonl  to  travel  across  the  skies  and  light 

your  way, 

(HE  PRODUCES  THE  GIFTS) 

GREEN 
But  Creator,  the  Sun  and  the  Moon  are  too  far  away, 

CREATOR 
Then  I  must  bring  them  nearer,  somehow,   I  know  what  we  must  do: 
Tribe  leaders,  each  one  of  you  go  to  your  own  tribe,  and  have  them 
get  down  on  their  territory,  and  dig  earth,  and  give  it  to  you, 

(TRIBE  LEADERS  TO  THEIR  TRIBES,   THE  MESSAGE  IS  APPROXIMATELY) 

TRIBE  LEADERS 
We  need  earth.   Get  way  down  on  the  ground,  and  dig  lots  of  dirt 
for  me,  and  put  it  in  this  giant-sized  bucket, 

(THEY  DO) 
Marvelous,   I  think  we  have  enough  now.   Oops,   Don't  spill  it. 
Now,  who  can  help  me  carry  this  in  to  Creator? 

(SOMETIMES  SEVERAL  VOLUNTEER,  SOMETIMES  THE  ENTIRE  TRIBE) 
Thank  you  very  much.   Now  go  back  and  sit  on  our  territory. 


7. 

CREATOR 

(ON  LADDER) 
All  my  creatures  upon  the  earth,  I  have  seeds  which  I  am  going  to 
plant  in  each  one  of  these  mounds  of  earth, 

(HE  DOES) 
Now,  to  make  the  seeds  grow,  every  creature  in  the  world  must  help. 
Help  by  making  growing  sounds.   Help  sing  the  mountains  up, 

(EVERYONE  MAKES  A  HUGE  RISING  SOUND  AS  THEY  WATCH  THE  MOUNTAINS 

RISE) 

TRIBE  LEADERS 
(TO  TRIBES,  APPROXIMATELY) 
Oh.   Look  at  the  mountain.   Way  up  there.   The  top  goes  right  into 
the  sky.   Sit  right  here,   I'm  going  to  climb  the  mountain.   And 
when  I  get  to  the  top,  I'm  going  to  wave  to  you,   1*11  be  very  high 
up,  so  watch  for  me,   I'll  wave, 

(THE  LEADERS  CLIMB  THE  MOUNTAIN,  CALLING  AND  WAVING  TO  THEIR 
TRIBES  WHEN  THEY  GET  TO  THE  TOP,   THEN  THEY  START  A  KIND  OF 
JUMPING/CLAPPING  CELEBRATION,  WHICH  TURNS  INTO  A  VARIATION 
OF  THE  ORIGINAL  DANCE.   THEY  COME  TO  A  CIRCLE  AGAIN  IN  THE 
MIDDLE  OF  THE  ROOM,  AND  THEY  FACE  OUT  TOWARDS  THE  TRIBES. ) 

UNISON 
The  sun,  the  moon,  and  the  seasons, 

BLUE 
A  long  time  ago,  before  you  were  born,  before  even  grandmothers 
and  grandfathers  were  born,  the  Sun  and  the  Moon  used  to  shine 
together.   They  were  brothers,  and  they  lived  together  in  the 
village  with  their  mother, 

(TWO  ACTORS  HAVE  PUT  ON  THEIR  HEADDRESSES  AND  BECOME  THE 
SUN  AND  THE  MOON,   THEY  STAND  ON  LADDERS  ON  OPPOSITE  SIDES 
OF  THE  CIRCLE,  HOLDING  LARGE  "LOLLIPOP"  REPRESENTATIONS  OF 
THEMSELVES,  WHICH  THEY  MOVE  IN  UNISON  IN  ARCS  OF  RISING 
AND  SETTING.   NOW  BLUE  PUTS  ON  A  HEADDRESS  AND  BECOMES  SKY 
WOMAN,  THEIR  MOTHER,   (WHEN  SHE  NARRATES  SHE  WILL  BE  REFERRED 
TO  AS  BLUE,   OTHER  TIMES  SHE  IS  SKY  WOMAN)   SHE  GOES  INTO 
AN  AREA  THAT  WILL  REPRESENT  THEIR  HUT,  AND  STARTS  TO  PREPARE 
A  MEAL) 

SKY  WOMAN 
Today,  for  my  handsome  sons,  my  elder  son,  the  Moon,  and  my 
younger  boy,  the  Sun,  I  will  make  a  delicious  feast,   I  have  in 
my  house  a  basket  of  red  berries,   I  also  have  a  basket  of 
delicious  brown  nuts.   And,  buried  in  the  ground,  I  have  saved 
some  meat, 

Gone?l 

Moon,  come  into  the  house, 

MOON 
Mother's  calling, 

(HE  INTERRUPTS  HIS  ARC,  GIVES  THE  MOON  STICK  TO  A  PREVIOUSLY 
APPOINTED  "MOON  HOLDER,"  AND  CEREMONIOUSLY  GOES  INTO  HIS  HUT,) 


8. 


SKY  WOMAN 
Moon,  my  elder  son,  I  would  speak  to  you  and  your  younger 
brother,  the  Sun,   Go  and  call  him, 

MOON 
(HE  STICKS  HIS  HEAD  OUT  OF  THE  HOUSE) 
Younger  brother.  Sun,  our  mother's  calling  for  us.   Hurry 1 

(SUN  GIVES  HIS  SUN  TO  AN  OFFICIAL  HOLDER  AND  HURRIES  INTO 
THE  HUT.   BOTH  BOW  FORMALLY  TO  THEIR  MOTHER) 

SKY  WOMAN 
Handsome,  shining,  resplendent  sons.   Today  I  would  make  for  you 
a  delicious  feast.   But  there  is  no  meat  in  the  house.   So  you 
must  go  into  the  forest  and  catch  some.   Moon,  take  your  younger 
brother,  the  Sun,  with  you, 

MOON 
Come,  younger  brother, 

(THEY  LEAVE  THE  HUT) 
Younger  brother,  get  our  spears. 

(SUN  DOES.   MOON  STARTS  OFF) 

SUN 
Moon  I 

MOON 
What? 

SUN 
Shouldn't  we  take  the  twine  to  bind  up  the  legs? 

MOON 
Younger  brother,  I've  already  told  you  to  bring  along  the  twine, 

(THEY  SET  OUT  THROUGH  THE  FOREST,  MOON  IN  THE  LEAD.   MOON 
BECOMES  APPREHENSIVE.   THE  WAY  AHEAD  LOOKS  DANGEROUS) 

MOON 
Younger  brother,  I've  led  the  hunt  so  often,  I  don't  need  to 
this  time.   You  lead  it.   You  need  the  experience, 

SUN 
I'll  do  my  best.  Moon, 

(HE  TAKES  THE  LEAD  AND  THEY  CONTINUE) 
Moon,  we've  hunted  in  this  part  of  the  forest  for  a  long  time, 
and  the  game  has  become  very  scarce.   Don't  you  think  we  should 
hunt  over  here? 

MOON 

We  shall  hunt  where  we've  always  hunted. 

SUN 
Very  well.  Moon, 


9. 

(THEY  GO  IN  THE  OLD  DIRECTION,  BUT  MOON  MAKES  SOME  SURREPTICIOUS 
INSPECTIONS  IN  THE  NEW  AREA) 

MOON 
Younger  brother,  lookl   Tracks  leading  over  in  that  direction. 
We'd  better  hunt  over  there  today, 

SUN 
An  excellent  idea.  Moon, 

(THEY  FOLLOW  THE  TRACKS) 
Moon,  I  think  I  see  an  antelope, 

MOON 
You  don't  see  any  antelope.   Your  eyes  are  very  bad,  younger 
brother, 

SUN 
I  roust  be  mistaken, 

(THEY  CONTINUE  AFTER  THE  TRACKS) 

MOON 
Younger  brother,  lookl   These  new  tracks  I  followed  lead  right 
to  an  antelope, 

SUN 
You  have  very  keen  eyes.  Moon,  As  the  older  brother,  you  should 
have  the  honor  of  the  first  kill, 

(MOON  GOES  THROUGH  ELABORATE  PREPARATIONS,  STARTS  OFF, 

LOSES  HIS  NERVE) 

MOON 
Younger  brother,  I've  done  this  so  often  before,  you  should  go  first 
this  time.   You  need  the  experience, 

SUN 
Well,  I'll  try  my  best.  Moon, 

(SUN  AIMS.., "Hah"  ,,.  A  DIRECT  HIT) 

MOON 
(AS  SOON  AS  SUN  HAS  STRUCK  THE  PREY,  HE  THROWS  HIS  SPEAR) 
Hah I   I  got  him I 

SUN 
Nice  shot.  Moon, 

MOON 
Tie  up  the  legs, 

(THEY  PULL  THEIR  SPEARS  OUT  OF  THE  ANIMAL.   MOON  HOLDS  HIS, 

WHILE  SUN  PUTS  HIS  IN  THE  GROUND,   SUN  THEN  TIES  UP  THE  LEGS, 

AND  SLIPS  MOON'S  SPEAR  THROUGH) 
Slip  your  spear  through, 

(SUN  DOES) 
Lift,   Ugh. 

(THEY  LIFT  TOGETHER) 


10. 


MOON  ( CX)NT.  ) 
Ugh,   Ugh,   The  weight  is  cutting  into  my  shoulder,  little 
brother.   You'll  have  to  carry  your  end  a  little  lower.,, Ugh, 
Lower  still,,, a  little  lower, 

(SUN  IS  NOW  IN  A  DEEP  CROUCH  AT  THE  REAR  END  OF  THE  BURDEN, 

THEY  START  OUT  FOR  HOME) 
We're  going  in  the  wrong  direction.   Turn  around, 

(TURNING  IS  A  BIG  UNDERTAKING,  WITH  SUN  CIRCLING  AROUND 

THE  MOON,  THE  PIVOT,   THEY  START  OFF  AGAIN. ) 

SUN 
Moon,  are  you  sure  this  is  the  right  direction? 

MOON 
You  pushed  me  in  the  wrong  direction.   Turn  around, 

(THEY  RE" PIVOT,  AND  ARE  FINALLY  ON  THEIR  WAY  HOME) 

BLUE 

It  was  a  very  successful  hunt  that  day,  and  on  their  way  home 

through  the  woods  they  met  a  beautiful  girl, 

(AN  ACTRESS  STEPS  FORWARD  AS  THE  BEAUTIFUL  GIRL.   THE 
HUNTERS  ARE  COMPLETELY  TAKEN  WITH  HER,  AND  THE  FEELING 
IS  SO  MUTUAL  THAT  FOR  A  WHILE  THEY  ARE  ALL  TONGUE-TIED) 

GIRL 
Is  that  yours? 

MOON 
I  killed  it, 

SUN 
We  killed  it  together, 

MOON 
Would  you  like  to  touch  it? 

(HE  GALLANTLY  LEADS  HER  TO  THE  ANIMAL) 

GIRL 
Oh,   Oh,  he's  so  bigl   Huge I   He's  a  monster.   You  must  be 
very  strong.   And  brave,  too.   Where  are  you  taking  him? 

SUN 
We  live  in  the  village.   We're  taking  him  to  our  mother. 


Then  you  have  no  wives? 


Nol 


GIRL 


BOTH 


11. 


SUN 
Do  you  have  a  husband? 

GIRL 
Oh,  I  live  in  the  forest,,, with  my  mother, 

SUN  MOON 

Well  then  you  can  marry  one        Then  you  can  marry  me, 
of  us, 

MOON 
I  zun  the  elder  brother,   I  am  very  brave,  and  very  strong, 
and  I  come  from  a  long  line  of  hunters. 

SUN 
Well,  I'm  everything  that  my  older  brother  is,  and  I'm  very 
loyal  to  my  family, 

GIRL 
(TO  MOON) 
I  like  you.,. 

MOON 
Oooooooo,  you'll  marry  me  then.   She's  going  to  marry  me, 

GIRL 
(TO  SUN) 
...and  I  like  you... 

SUN 
Oh.   HaHAHl 

GIRL 
...but  Mother  has  always  said  that  she  would  choose  my  husband 
for  me.   Come  back  tomorrow.   I  precise  you  I'll  take  you  both 
to  her.  Goodbye I 

BLUE 
The  girl  disappeared  back  into  the  woods,  and  the  boys  returned 
home, 

(THEY  TAKE  THE  BEAST  TO  SKY  WOMAN'S  HUT) 

SKY  WOMAN 
What  a  mjgnificent  beast  I   Brave  sonsl   Today  you  shall  skin  the 
beast, 

(THEY  DO) 
Tomorrow  you  shall  cut  it  into  smaller  pieces, 

(THEY  DO) 
And  on  the  following  day,  I  shall  cook  you  a  delicious  feast, 

MOON 
The  Sun  will  have  to  finish  my  work  for  me,   I  have  to  go  back 
to  the  forest. 


12. 


SKY  WOMAN 
You  have  to, , , 7 

M(X)N 
Mother,  we  both  have  to  go  back  to  the  forest, 

MOON  SUN 

I  met  a  beautiful  girl  in  the  We  met  a  very  lovely  girl,  and 

forest  today,  and  she  said  I  tomorrow  she's  going  to  take  us 

was  brave,  and  strong,  and  she  both  to  meet  her  mother.   And 

liked  me  very  much.   And  to-  so  we  have  to  go  back  to  the 

morrow,  when  I  go  back  to  the  forest, 
forest  she's  going  to  marry  me, 

SKY  WOMAN 
But  you  can't  both  marry  her,,, 

MOON 
Well,  she  said  that  she  would  decide  to  marry  me  tomorrow, 

SUN 
No  I   Her  mother's  going  to  choose  between  us. 


SKY  WOMAN 


Oh,  I  see. 


Tomorrow,  then,  I  will  do  your  work  for  you,   but  first, ,, come, 

(SHE  MAKES  THEM  KNEEL  FOR  A  KIND  OF  BLESSING) 
The  forest  can  be  a  very  dangerous  place.   Protect  each  other, 

BLUE 
Early  the  next  morning,  the  boys  set  off  on  their  way.   But 
unbeknownst  to  them,  the  mother  of  the  beautiful  girl  had  set  up 
terrible  enchantments  in  the  forest  to  test  their  bravery, 

(THE  MOTHER  SETS  HER  ENCHANTMENTS  THROUGH  A  MYSTERIOUS 

DANCE.   THEN:) 

MOTHER 

Yellow  tribe  I   Ah-rohn-ah-seetzi-too-rooi 
(OR  ANY  OTHER  MAGIC  WORD) 

You  are  a  grove  of  pointed  swordsj   Risel   Come  together l   Grab 

hands i   And  point  your  swords  towards  the  hunters I 

(IF  THE  TRIBES  ARE  SMALL,  INCLUDE  ALSO  THE  GREEN  TRIBE  AND 
THE  PURPLE  TRIBE.   AT  ANY  RATE,  THIS  TAKES  A  LITTLE  SUPER- 
VISION, AND  IT  IS  BEST  TO  FREEZE  ALL  OTHER  ACTION  UNTIL  THE 
SWORDS  ARE  SET  UP.   THE  MOTHER  JOINS  THE  TRIBES. ) 

MOON 
Younger  brother,  look  at  all  those  sharp  swords  over  there.   That's 
a  whole  grove  of  gleeiming  swords.   How  are  we  going  to  get  through? 


13. 


SUN 
We ' 11  Just  have  to  battle  our  way  through.   Come  on, 

(THERE  ENSUES  A  SPIRITED  ENCOUNTER  IN  WHICH  THE  HUNTERS 
CHARGE  INTO  THE  SWORDS  AND  ARE  THROWN  BACK  ON  TO  THE  GROUND, 
ABOUT  FOUR  OR  FIVE  TIMES) 

MOTHER 
(MAGIC  WORDl ) 
Swords,  disappear  back  to  your  territory, 

(WITH  A  LITTLE  ENCOURAGEMENT,  THEY  DO) 

MOON 
Shi   They've  gone.   They've  disappeared, 

SUN 
I've  captured  two  of  them,  lookl 
(HE  HAS  TWO  CHILDREN,) 

(MOTHER  CROSSES  TO  THE  OTHER  SIDE  OF  THE  FOREST  TO  ACTIVATE 
HER  NEXT  TEST,  WHILE  THE  BROTHERS  RECOVER  FROM  THEIR  FIRST 
ADVENTURE.   THE  FOLLOWING  SCENES  TAKE  PLACE  SIMULTANEOUSLY) 

MOTHER  MOON 

Orange  tribe,   Oh-wah-hah-ti  Get  me  up,  will  you?,,, Now  remember, 

kahl-nahJ  one  of  those  swords  is  for  me.   But 

(OR  ANY  SUCH  WORD)  I'll  let  you  take  care  of  them  both. 
You  are  a  grove  of  densely 

planted  trees.   Rise I   Come  SUN 

very  close  together.   Lift  Where  do  you  suppose  they  came  from? 
your  branches  I   And  don't 
let  the  hunters  through I  MOON 

(MOTHER  JOINS  THE  Never  saw  them  before. 


FOREST. ) 

SUN 
Well,  watch  out  for  the  points.   They're 
very  sharp, 

MOON 
Oh,  they're  not  that  sharp.   Look, 
Owwwwwwwl   Achl 

SUN 
Here,  let  me  hold  them.   And  be 
careful! 

MOON 
Younger  brother,  look  at  that  forest  over  there.   Those  trees 
are  so  close  together I   I  can't  see  any  light  between  them, 

SUN 
We'll  have  to  battle  our  way  again. 


14. 


MOON 
Then  we'd  better  start  from  way  over  here, 

SUN 
(TO  SWORDS) 
You  wait  for  us  here.   We're  going  to  battle  our  way  through, 

(MORE  BATTLING  AND  GETTING  THROWN   BACK) 
Waiti   I  have  an  idea, 

MOON 
Oh,  your  ideas  are  always  terrible, 

SUN 
Nol   Lookl   We'll  take  these  swords  that  we  captured,  and  we'll 
chop  down  all  of  the  trees.   Here,  hold  this  one, 

MOON 
Now  that's  not  going  to  work.   The  swords  aren't  even  sharp, 
remember?  The  only  way  is  to  battle  our  way  through, 

(MORE  BATTLING.   IT  IS  NOT  WORKING.   THE  BROTHERS  ARE 
TIRED  AND  DISCOURAGED,   AD  LIBS  TO  THIS  EFFECT) 

Younger  brother,  I  have  a  brilliant  idea.   These  swords  that  I 
captured  can  chop  down  anything.   We  can  chop  down  the  whole 
forest, 

SUN 
As  you  say.  Moon, 

(TO  HIS  SWORD) 
Ready,  sword?   Point  forward, 

(THE  BROTHERS  AIM  THEIR  SWORDS.   BUZZ-SAW  FASHION,  THEY 
CHOP  DOWN  ALL  THE  TREES.   THE  MOTHER  HELPS  THIS  BY  BEING 
THE  FIRST  TO  GO,   THE  BROTHERS  AD  LIB: 

Look  at  it  fall  J 

Another  one  downi 

Chopl   Chop  over  here. 

Over  there 1  ETC, ) 

MOTHER 
(RISING  AND  TAKING  COMMAND) 
Ah-rah-ah-tee-shee-bahl  Swords,  disappear I 

(SHE  GESTURES  THEM  BACK  TO  THEIR  TERRITORY) 

SUN 
Nothing  but  dead  trees  now, 

MOTHER 
Trees  disappearl 

(SHE  SIGNALS  THEM  OFF,  TOO,  AND  THE  HUNTERS  MAY  HELP  IF 
NEEDED.  .  THEN  SHE  TAKES  OFF  FOR  THE  OTHER  SIDE  OF  THE  ROOM 
WHERE  TWO  OF  THE  ACTORS  HAVE  SET  UP  A  "LAKE,"  A  LONG 
SLASHED  FABRIC. ) 


15. 


MOON 
Younger  brother,  I'm  exhausted.   Absolutely  dead,   I  can't  go 
through  another  one  of  those  things  without  a  drink  of  water 
or  something, 

SUN 
Well,  there's  a  lake  over  there.   We  can  get  a  drink  at  the  lake, 

MOON 
Wait  a  minute,   I'm  not  sure  I  trust  the  lake.   It  might  be 
another  one  of  those  tricks, 

SUN 
It  doesn't  look  like  a  trick.   It  looks  like  a  leOce, 

MOON 
And  it  looks  cool, 

SUN 
And  water, 

MOON 
And  I »m  thirsty, 

SUN 
Come  on.   We'll  drink  some  of  it, 

MOTHER 
(ANOTHER  MAGIC  WORD) 
(HUGE  BONES  RISE  UP  FROM  THE  WATER) 

SUN 
BONES 1 

(THE  BONES  DISAPPEAR) 

MOON 
(SIMULTANEOUSLY  WITH  SUN'S  SPEECH) 
Ohl   Ohl   Ohi  OhI   Did  you  see  those  bones  of  dead  people?  Ohl 

SUN 
You're  the  older  brother.   You  lead  the  way, 

MOON 
I,,, Well,,, I '11  lead  the  way,,, and  I'll  be  right  behind  you. 
Are  they  gone? 

SUN 
Yes,  they're  all  gone, 

MOON 
You're  surei 

(MOTHER  PRONOUNCES  ANOTHER  MAGIC  WORD,  AND  HUGE  TEETH  RISE 
ABOVE  THE  WATER) 


16. 


SUN  MOON 

Ohi   Teethl   Teeeeethi  Ohl   Ohl   Nol   Teethl   Those 

teeth  are  going  to  bite  my 
head  off.   This  is  the  end, 
I 'm  going  home, 

(HE  RUNS  OFF) 

MOTHER 
(ANOTHER  MAGIC  WORD  AND  THE  WATERS  OF  THE  LAKE  RISE 
ALMOST  OVER  SUN'S  HEAD.   HE  SWIMS  FRANTICALLY  TO  KEEP 
ABOVE  WATER,  AND  FINALLY  THE  LAKE  RECEDES, 

ANOTHER  MAGIC  WORD  AND  FIRE  AND  SMOKE  RISE  FROM  THE  LAKE 
AND  CHASE  SUN,   HE  FIGHTS  THEM  OFF, ) 

SUN 
Fire,,, smoke. ,, No,,, No,,, You  won't  make  me  run  away, 

(FIRE  AND  SMOKE  RECEDE.   ANOTHER  MAGIC  WORD,   THE  LAKE 
LOWERS  AND  THE  BEAUTIFUL  GIRL  RISES  THROUGH  IT) 

GIRL 
Sun,   Oh,  Sun,  I'm  so  proud  of  you.   You  stayed  through  all  the 
tests  and  you  were  so  brave.   Will  you  come  with  me  now  to  meet 
my  mother? 

(SHE  LEADS  HIM  TO  HER  MOTHER) 

GIRL 
Mother,  this  is  the  Sun, 

MOTHER 
Daughter,  you  have  chosen  the  truly  brave  hunter.   He  will  make 
a  strong  and  loving  husband.   Be  together, 

(THE  LAST  SENTENCE  IS  THE  ENTIRE  WEDDING  CEREMONY,  AS 

MOTHER  PERFORMS  A  BLESSING  WITH  HER  HANDS) 

BLUE 
And  so  the  Sun  took  his  new  bride  with  him  back  to  his  village, 

SUN 
Mother 1   Mother I 

SKY  WOMAN 
Sun J   You're  safe I   You're  homel 
(SHE  EMBRACES  HIM) 

SUN 
Mother,  I 've  brought  my  bride  from  the  forest, 

SKY  WOMAN 
Daughter I 

( EMBRACE  > 


17. 


MOON 
He's  back. 

SUN 
It  is  fitting  that  the  older  brother  should  marry  first,  but  my 
older  brother,  the  Moon,  ran  away.   So  I've  taken  her  to  be  my 
bride, 

(A  CEREMONIAL  STAMPING  AND  SHOUTING  IS  NOW  THE  EQUIVALENT  OF 
A  DECLARATION  OF  WAR.   THEN  FIGHTING  ENSUES  BETWEEN  THE  BROTHERS 
WITH  MUCH  WRESTLING  AND  POUNDING.   AT  THE  CRUCIAL  MOMENT, 
SKY  WOMAN  INTERCEDES) 

SKY  WOMAN 
Nol   Stop  the  fighting  I   There  will  be  no  fighting!   Sun  has 
won  his  wife  fairly.  She  may  live  in  the  village  with  him. 

There  will  be  no  more  fighting.   No  longer  will  you  shine  together. 
(THE  BROTHERS  SEPARATE,  MOON  GOING  TO  ONE  LADDER,  SUN 
GOING  TO  HIS  WIFE. ) 

BLUE 
And  so  it  was  that  when  the  Sun  was  at  home  in  the  village  with 
his  wife,  the  Moon  rose  in  the  sky.   And  when  the  Moon  had  set, 
the  Sun  rose, 

(SUN  BIDS  GOODBYE  TO  HIS  WIFE  AND  GOES  TO  HIS  LADDER) 

The  sun  was  very  happy  with  his  new  wife,  and  wanted  to  shine 
especially  brightly  for  her.   And  one  day  he  noticed,  fishing  at 
the  river  nearby,  a  young  boy,  wearing  a  brightly  colored 
feather  cloak, 

SUN 
If  I  had  such  a  feather  cloak,  I'd  be  more  splendid  than  the 
Moon, 

(HE  PICKS  UP  A  SKIN  AND  DESCENDS  TO  VISIT  THE  YOUNG 

FISHERMAN ) 
Good  morning, 

BOY 
Oh,  are  you  the  Sun?  What  are  you  doing  so  close  to  the  earth? 

SUN 
I  have  something  to  ask  you, 

BOY 
What  could  you  ask  of  me? 

SUN 
Give  me  your  feather  cloak,  and  I'll  give  you  my  goatskin 
blanket  for  it. 


18. 


BOY 
My  grandmother  made  this  feather  clcak  for  me.   I  cannot  give  it 
to  you. 

SUN 
But  you  can  say  that  the  Sun  gave  you  this  blanket.   Does 
anyone  else  have  a  blanket  from  the  Sun? 

BOY 
My  grandmother  was  a  long  time  in  making  this  feather  cloak. 
And  she  was  a  longer  time  in  getting  all  the  beautiful  feathers 
for  it. 

SUN 
But  your  grandmother  could  look  up  into  the  sky  every  day  and  say, 
•'I  made  a  feather  cloak  for  the  Sun. " 

BOY 
Not  even  the  chief  of  our  village  has  a  feather  cloak  like  mine. 

SUN 
But  does  the  Sun  come  to  bargain  with  the  chief  of  your  village? 
(THE  SUN  IS  SHOWING  HIS  SKIN) 

BOY 
Oh,  you  only  have  a  goatskin. 

SUN 
But  this  is  a  magic  blanket. 

BOY 
It's  a  dull  grey — not  like  my  feather  cloak, 

SUN 
This  is  a  magic  blanket,  better  than  your  fishing  line.   Now 
watch.   I  dip  it  into  the  stream,  and  it  catches  two  fish, 
(HE  DOES  AND  IT  DOES) 

BOY 
It  did.   It  caught  two  fish  immediately! 

SUN 
Try  it. 

BOY 
It  caught  two  more  fishl.,.and  still  two  morel 

(BY  THIS  TIME  THE  SUN  HAS  REMOVED  THE  BOY'S  CLOAK) 


19. 


BOY 
I  don't  )cnow  whether  my  grandmother  will  like  this  or  not. 
She  made  the  feather  cloak  for  me. 
(AND  HE  CONTINUES  FISHING) 

SUN 
(ASCENDING  LADDER) 
But  your  grandmother  will  be  the  first  woman  of  the  village. 
She'll  say,  "I  made  a  feather  cloak  for  the  sun."  And  she'll 
be  proud, 

BOY 
(HE  HAS  EIGHT  FISH  BY  NOW) 
I  still  don't  know  whether  my  grandmother  will  like  it.   But  if 
I  catch  two  fish  every  time  I  dip  this  blanket  into  the  water, 
she  won't  punish  me. 

BLUE 
Now  the  Sun  was  very  proud,  in  his  new  cloak... so  proud  that 
he  didn't  even  think  of  how  hot  his  rays  were  becoming. 

(SUN  ARCS  HIS  "SUN,"  HISSING) 
Soon  the  earth  grew  hot,  so  very  hot  that  all  the  birds  and  animals 
of  the  world  began  to  groan  and  complain. 

(FOUR  OF  THE  ACTORS  ARE  NEXT  TO  THEIR  TRIBES,  GROANING  AND 
COMPLAINING.  THEY  ARE  CUCKABURRA  BIRD,  ROOSTER,  TIGER  CAT 
AND  BULL) 

CUCKABURRA  BIRD 
Oh,  it's  SO  hot,  so  hot.   Oooooooooo.   Tiger  Cat,  Tiger  Cat,  I'm 
most  horribly  hot,   I  can't  stand  the  Sun. 

SUN 
Hmpb   Can't  stand  the  Sun, 

TIGER  CAT 
I  can't  stand  him,  either.   The  ggrrass  is  so  hot,  it's  burrrrrning 
my  feet.   Mrrrrrrr.  Bull,  Mrrrrrrr.  Bull,  is  it  hot  where  you 
arrrrrrre? 

SUN 
Can't  stand  the  Sun,  either, 

BULL 
Mmmmmm,  MMmmmmmmm.   I'm  mmmmmmmmelting.   All  my  romrommmmmuscles 
are  gone.   I  hate  the  Sun.   Rooooster,  how  are  you? 

SUN 
Hates  the  sunl 


20. 


ROOSTER 
I'm  so  hot,  I  feel  like  a  roast  chicken.   I'm  roasting.   I'm 
broiling.   The  Sun  ought  to  be  eliminated,  that's  what  I  think. 


SUN 


Eliminatedl 


CUCKABURRA 
Down  with  the  Sun I   Down  with  the  Sunl 

THE  OTHER  ANIMALS 
(JOINING  IN) 
Down  with  the  Sunl   Down  with  the  Sunl   Down  with  the  Sunl 
Down  with  the  Sunl 

SUN 
Ssssssssssssilencel   I've  heard  your  insssssults  and  sssss  shouting, 
and  if  I  hear  any  more  of  that,  I'm  going  to  sssssset  and  never 
rise  again. 


Down  with  the  Sunl 
Down  with  the  Sunl 


ANIMALS 
Down  with  the  Sunl 


Down  with  the  Sunl 


SUN 
SSSSsilencel   You've  been  warned, 
never  rise  again. 


Now  I'm  going  to  set,  and 


(THE  SUN  SETS.   FIRST  THERE  ARE  EXTENSIVE  CHEERS  FROM  ALL 
OF  THE  ANIMALS,  THEN  SIGNS  OF  RELIEF,   THEN  THE  ANIMALS 
START  CONVERSING  WITH  THEIR  TRIBES,   FOR  EXAMPLE — 

ANIMALS 
Isn't  it  getting  chilly? 
I  notice  a  draft. 
Where  is  it  coming  from? 

It's  really  very  cold  out.   Don't  you  feel  it? 
Why  has  it  gotten  so  cold? 

(SOONER  OR  LATER  ONE  OF  THE  CHILDREN  WILL  TELL  THE  LEADER 
ABOUT  THE  CONNECTION  BETWEEN  THE  INSULT  TO  THE  SUN  AND 
THE  PRESENT  CHILL.   PRETTY  SOON  EVERYONE  IS  SHIVERING 
AND  FREEZING) 

CUCKABURRA 

(TO  HER  TRIBE) 
Ooooooooow,  Ooooooooooooow,   What  can  we  dooooooo?  We'd  better 
call  a  council  meeting. 

(THEY  BEAT  OUT  A  VERY  SIMPLE  RHYTHM  ON  THE  FLOOR,   ONE 

BY  ONE  THE  TRIBE  LEADERS  PICK  IT  UP  WITH  THEIR  TRIBES. 

FOR  EXAMPLE:) 


Hear  that? 


TRIBE  LEADERS 
They're  calling  a  council  meeting. 


Let's  Join  them. 


21. 

(WHEN  EVERYONE  IS  BEATING,  THE  LEADERS  GO  TO  MEET  IN 
THE  CENTER  OF  THE  CIRCLE) 

CUCKABURRA 
It's  cold, 

TIGER 
It's  cold. 

BULL 
It's  cold. 

ROOSTER 
It's  freezing. 

TIGER 
What  are  we  going  to  do? 

CUCKABURRA 
What  can  we  do? 

BULL 
We  have  to  go  to  see  Sky  Woman. 

ROOSTER 
Sky  Woman?  How  do  we  get  there? 

BULL 
Follow  me.   I  know  the  way. 

(THEY  ALL  FOLLOW  THE  BULL.   AD  LIBS  ON  THE  WAY) 

ANIMALS 
Oo,  I'm  just  trembling. 
I'm  freezing  to  the  ground. 
My  bones  are  cracking;  are  we  there  yet? 
I  feel  like  frozen  chicken  now. 

BULL 
We're  here. 

(TO  AUDIENCE) 
Help  us  call  Sky  Woman, 

ANIMALS 
Sky  Woman 1   Sky  Woman 1  Sky  Woman 1   Sky  Woman 1 

ROOSTER 
There  she  is. 

SKY  WOMAN 
What  is  it,  creatures  of  the  earth?  What  is  it  you  want  from  me? 


22. 

CUCKABURRA 


(TO  BULL) 
You  tell  her. 


BULL 
Sky  Woman,  we  insulted  the  Sun.   And  he  set.   And  now  we're  all 
freezing.   Oooooooo, 

SKY  WOMAN 
If  you  have  insulted  my  son,  you  have  learned  what  a  very  proud 
man  he  is.   You  will  have  to  go  back  to  him, 

(THEY  ALL  RUN  AWAY  FROM  THIS  IDEA,  SCATTERING.   AD  LIBS:) 

ANIMALS 
No,  I'll  never  go  back. 
We  can't  do  that.   ETC. 

SKY  WOMAN 
You  must  find  some  way  to  reach  him.   And  if  the  first  way  does 
not  work,  keep  trying  until  you  find  the  right  way. 

(SHE  LEAVES,   MANY  CONFUSED  RESPONSES.   AD  LIBj) 

ANIMALS 
We  can't  go. 

He'll  never  listen  to  us. 
We  started  it,  but  he  doesn't  like  us  any  more, 

BULL 
We'll  all  just  freeze  to  death, 

ROOSTER 
Wait  a  minute.   Don't  give  up  yet.   Rooster  will  save  you  all, 

BULL 
You?  Little  screechy  Rooster? 

ROOSTER 
Well,  you  know  the  Sun  was  a  friend  of  mine.   We  had  many  visits, 
I'll  bet  he'll  come  out  if  I  ask  him  nicely, 

(WITH  A  CROW  HE  IS  OFF.   THE  OTHER  ANIMALS  BLOCK  HIS  WAY 
AND  CARRY  HIM  BACK) 

ROOSTER 
Aaaa,  Aaaa,  what  are  you  doing  to  me?  Oaaaaaal   Ohl 

BULL 
Rooster,  you  can't  go  to  see  the  Sun.   You're  little,  and  you're 
noisy,  and  he  won't  listen  to  you.   Now  I  am  big,  and  I  am 
strong,  and  I  am  tough,   I  am  the  one  who's  going  to  see  the  Sun, 
And  when  I  get  there,  he  will  shine, 

(TO  OTHER  ANIMALS) 
Hold  him. 


23. 


BULL  (CONT. ) 

(HE  GOES  TO  THE  SUN) 
Mr,  Sun,  Mr,  Sun,   Come  on  out,   1,  the  bull,  am  calling  to  you, 
and  I  demand  your  presence, 

(THE  SUN  SENDS  OUT  A  SCORCHING  HEAT  RAY  AND  BURNS  BULL. 

BULL,  IN  AGONY,  STAGGERS  BACK  TO  THE  ARMS  OF  HIS  FRIENDS. ) 

ROOSTER 
Now  that  wouldn't  have  happened  if  you  had  let  me  go.   But  I'm 
on  my  way  now.   Just  watch  me, 

(TIGER  AND  CUCKABURRA  PULL  HIM  BACK,  SCREAMING) 

TIGER 
Rooster,  you'd  better  not  be  in  such  a  hurry.   The  Sun  won't 
listen  to  you  because  you're  too  silly  looking.   Just  look  at  you, 
with  your  feathers  sticking  out  all  over  the  place.   But  he  will 
listen  to  me,  because  I'm  a  beautiful  animal, 

(SHE  ADVANCES) 
And  Suns  listen  to  Tigers,   Misterrrr  Sun,   Misterrrrrr  Sun,  this 
is  Tiger  calling.   Come  on  out  and  shine  on  my  stripes,  Mr,  Sun, 

SUN 
(UNDER  THE  EARTH) 
Stripes — huhl 

(HE  SENDS  OUT  ANOTHER  BLISTERING  SUN  RAY.   TIGER  BARELY 
MAKES  IT  BACK) 

ROOSTER 
Now  you  have  to  let  me  go,   I'm  telling  you,  I  know  how  to  get 
him  to  come  out, 
(HE  IS  OFF) 

CUCKABURRA 

(BLOCKS  HIM) 
No-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo,   No-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo,   You  know  nothing. 
You're  only  one  skinny  rooster,  with  a  skinny  brain.   But  I  can 
get  all  the  clever  creatures  of  the  green  forest  to  go  with  me, 

(SHE  GOES  TO  HER  TRIBE) 
Come,  creatures  of  the  green  forest.   We'll  get  Mr,  Sun,  won't  we? 
Come  with  me, 

(GREEN  TRIBE  GOES  WITH  HER) 
Now  call  Mr,  Sun  in  your  very  best  animal  voices,   Mr,  Sun.,, 
Sing  a  little  louder.   Maybe  he  didn't  hear  you,   Mr,  Sun.,, 

SUN 
Huh? 

CUCKABURRA 
Did  you  see  that?  Did  you  see  it I   He  turned  around  and  he 
ignored  us,  after  we  called  to  him  so  sweetly.   Well  this  time 
we'll  show  him, 

(SHE  SCREECHES  AND  SO  DO  THEY) 
Mr,  Sunl   Mr,  Sun»   Mr,  Sunl   Mr,  Sunl 


24. 


(TH£  SUN  SENDS  OUT  ANOTHER  TERRIBLE  RAY,   THE  ANIMALS  ARE 
NEARLY  DONE  IN,  AND  COLLAPSE  ON  TO  THEIR  TRIBAL  TERRITORY) 

ROOSTER 
You  seel   You  seel   You  should  have  let  me  go  in  the  first  place, 
I  can  do  it,   I  know  I  can, 

ALL  THE  ANI^iALS 
No! 

CUCKABURRA 
It's  for  your  own  good, 

TIGER 
You'll  get  burned, 

BULL 
If  he  didn't  want  us,  he  certainly  won't  want  you, 

ROOSTER 
Now  I  know.   You  don't  want  me  to  go.   You're  jealous  of  me. 
Well,  I'll  ask  my  tribe  if  I  should  go.   Red  Tribe,  should  I 
go  to  the  Sun? 

(IF  THEY  SAY  YES) 

See?   They  want  me  to  go  and  I'm  going, 

(IF  THEY  SAY  NO) 
Well,  it  seems  like  nobody  wants  me  to  go,  but  I'm  going  anyhow, 

(IF  THEY  ARE  DIVIDED) 
You  see?  A  lot  of  them  want  me  to  go. 

(EN  ROUTE) 
I'll  do  it.   He's  a  good  friend  of  mine.   He'll  listen  to  me. 
This  is  far  enough. 

Good  morning,  Mr,  Sun, 

He  didn't  answer  me, 

Mr,  Sun,  how  are  you  feeling  today?  How's  your  health?   I  can 
see  you  peeking  over  the  edge,,, Oh,  you're  pale.   You  should  come 
out  for  some  fresh  air, 

SUN 
No,  Mr,  Rooster,   You're  trying  to  trick  me, 

ROOSTER 
What? 


25. 


SUN 
You're  trying  to  make  me  rise  again.   Well  I'm  never  going  to 
rise  again,   I've  been  insulted  by  every  one,  and  you'll  never 
see  me  again, 

ROOSTER 
Oh,  hir.  Sun,  you  just  hurt  my  feelings  so  badly.   Why,  do  you 
know  what  I  had  to  go  through  just  to  get  here  to  say  "good 
morning"  to  you? 
I  had  to  swim  across  rivers. 
And  I  climbed  mountains. 

And  then  I  had  to  go  down  through  a  valley. 
And  then  through  a  dark  cave. 
And  then  a  swamp,  ugh. 

All  because  I  thought  you  were  my  best  friend,  and  you  would 
appreciate  it.   And  now  you  say  I'm  trying  to  trick  you.   Well, 
you  hurt  my  feelings.   So  I'm  going  to  go  home  and  cry  myself 
to  sleep, 

(STARTS  TO  LEAVE) 

SUN 
Hm, 

ROOSTER 
Sky  Woman  said,  "Keep  trying  everything  until  something  works," 
,,, something  that  works,,, 

Woooo,  Woooo,,,Mr,  Sun,  would  you  do  me  one  little  favor  after 
all  I  did  for  you?   Just  one  little  favor?   Please? 

SUN 
What  is  it,  Mr,  Rooster, 

ROOSTER 
I  didn't  mind  that  long  trip  here  to  see  you.   Not  one  bit,   I 
even  loved  it.   But  there  was  one  thing  that  I  was  scared  of. 
And  now  I'm  frightened  to  death. 


SUN 


What  is  it? 


ROOSTER 
The  jungle  leopard,   I  know  he  saw  me  on  my  long  journey  here, 
He  couldn't  help  it.   And  now  he's  lying  in  wait  for  me.   He 
could  be  any  place.   Oh,  please  protect  me.   Please,   Please, 
After  all  I  did  for  you, 

SUN 
How  can  I  protect  you  from  a  jungle  leopard? 

ROOSTER 
Scare  him  away  if  he  tries  to  kill  me.   Oh  please? 


26. 


SUN 
How  will  I  know  if  he's  trying  to  kill  you? 

ROOSTER 
I'll  give  you  my  "coc-a-doodle-doo, "   Oh  please.   After  all 
I  did  for  you, 

SUN 
All  right,   I'll  protect  you.   But  I'm  never  rising  again, 

ROOSTER 
Oh  no.   You  shouldn't,   I  know  just  how  you  feel.   But  I  want 
you  to  know  you're  the  best  friend  anyone  ever  had.   Goodbye, 

(ROOSTER  GOES  AN  APPROPRIATE  DISTANCE,  AND  THEN  SOUNDS  A 
TREMENDOUS  CROW.  THE  SUN  COMES  UP  IMMEDIATELY,  BUT  SEES 
NO  LEOPARD, ) 

SUN 
Where's  the  jungle  leopard? 

ROOSTER 
Ah  ooo  O  O  ah.   Oh,  he  just  ran  over  the  hills  to  get  away. 
Oh,  you  saved  my  life,  Mr,  Sun,   Thank  you.   Thank  you, 

SUN 
He  had  time  to  run  away?   I  zoomed  up  here  just  as  fast  as  I 
could,  ,,,,,,., ,Oh, ,,,,,,,, ,Oh. .....,,, ,Oh, •,,,..,., ,Mmmmmm, 

Mmmmm, ,,,,,,,,,, mmmmmmmmm.   It's  wonderful  being  out  here  in 

the  air  again, 

Mr,  Rooster,  I  want  to  thank  you  for  making  me  rise  again,,, 

ROOSTER 
It  was  my  pleasure, 

SUN 
And  I»m  going  to  give  you  a  present, 

ROOSTER 
A  present I 

SUN 
I  want  you  always  to  wear  this  comb  on  your  head.   Come  here, 

(HE  ATTACHES  THE  COMB  TO  THE  ROOSTER) 
There, 

ROOSTER 
Oh,  oh.   Thank  you.   Thank  you, 

ANIMALS 
(CHEERING  AND  APPLAUDING  FOR  ROOSTER,  AD  LIB) 
Rooster,  rooster.   He  saved  us  all I 
Yeaay,  Rooster* 
Yeeay,  Rooster,  the  bravest  of  all,   ETC 


27. 


BLUE 
That  night,  all  of  the  animals  went  home  as  the  sun  set.   And 
every  morning  after,  the  sun  rose  again.   But,  just  to  make  sure, 
early  every  morning  Mr,  Rooster.,, 

(HE  COMES  OUT  AND  CROWS) 

SUN 
(RISES) 
Good  morning,  Mr,  Rooster, 

ROOSTER 
Good  morning,  Mr,  Sun. 

SUN 
How  do  you  like  your  new  comb? 

ROOSTER 
Oh,  it's  beautiful,  but  all  the  other  animals  are  jealous, 

SUN 
Jealous? 

ROOSTER 
You  gave  me  a  gift,  but  the  only  thing  they  got  was  burned, 

SUN 
Call  them  together,  and  bring  them  here, 

ROOSTER 
Cuckaburra,  Bull,  Tiger  Cat,  the  Sun  wants  to  see  us, 

(THE  ANIMALS  GATHER  BEFORE  THE  SUN) 

SUN 
Animals,  the  reason  I've  called  you  together  is  because  1  know 
you've  been  burned  many  times  by  the  rays  of  the  Sun.   I  want 
to  give  each  of  you  something  to  protect  you  from  those  rays, 
Cuckaburra  bird,  I'm  giving  you  a  bag  of  clouds  to  shade  the 
earth  in  the  summer, 

CUCKABURRA 
Thank  you,  Mr,  Sun, 

SUN 
Mr.  Bull,  I'm  giving  you  a  bag  of  wind  to  cool  the  earth  in  the 
autumn, 

BULL 
Mmrommmm.   Thank  you,  Mr.  Sun, 

SUN 
Tiger  Cat,  I'm  giving  you  a  bag  of  snow  to  make  the  earth 
beautiful  in  the  winter. 


28. 


TIGER 
Grrrrr. 

(SHE  CANNOT  TALK  WITH  THE  BAG  IN  HER  MOUTH) 

SUN 
Mr,  Rooster,  for  you,  a  bag  of  rain  to  enrich  the  earth  in 
the  spring, 

ROOSTER 
Oh,  thank  you,  Mr.  Sun,   Thank  you, 

SUN 
All  of  you  go  back  to  your  tribes,  and  open  up  your  bags  when 
you  get  there, 
(THEY  GO) 

SUN 
Cuckaburra  Bird  was  the  first  one  to  open  her  bag.   Great  big  soft 
clouds  floated  out,  and  sailed  all  around  the  world. 

CUCKABURRA 
(TO  HER  TRIBE) 
We're  all  the  clouds.   Come,  sail  with  me  once  around  the  world, 

(THEY  FLOAT  ONCE  AROUND  THE  CIRCLE. 

BLUE 
Next,  Bull  opened  his  bag.   Out  blew  a  great  wind, 

BULL 
Wind,   Orange  tribe,  follow  me  a  blow  once  around  the  earth, 
(THEY  DO) 

BLUE 
And  when  the  earth  was  cooled  by  the  great  winds.  Tiger  Cat 
opened  her  bag.   And  when  she  did,  lovely  white  snow  fluttered 
down  through  the  skies, 

TIGER 
Follow  me  all  over  the  world.  Snow, 
(THEY  DO) 

BLUE 
And  when  the  earth  was  covered  by  a  big  blanket  of  snow,  then 
Rooster  opened  his  bag,  and  a  big  rain  danced  out  to  enrich  the 
whole  earth, 

ROOSTER 

Red  tribe,  let's  do  a  rain  dance  right  where  we  are,  and  open  up 

the  clouds,  and  Jximp  in  the  puddles. 

(THEY  DO,   AT  THE  END  OF  THE  RAIN  DANCE,  A  SIGNAL  IS  GIVEN  AND 
EVERYONE  CLAPS  THE  STEADY  BEAT  OF  THE  FIRST  CIRCLE  DANCE.   THE 
TRIBE  LEADERS  DANCE  THIS  FINAL  VARIATION,  AND  LAND  IN  FRONT 
OF  THEIR  OWN  TRIBES,  KNEELING) 

UNISON 
(RISING  AS  THEY  TALK) 
And  everything  on  earth  grew,  and  grew-  and  grew,  and  went  off  to 
make  the  world  beautiful. 


■'■M 


UCLA-College  Library 

PN6120A5B774 


L  005  664  957  7 

A5B77't 


^ 


